Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson has unveiled his 18-player squad for the Paris Olympics campaign, gambling on the fitness of star midfielder Katrina Gorry while dropping Charli Grant in a major surprise.
As confirmed two weeks ago, the Games have come too soon for star striker Sam Kerr following her ACL injury in January, while the forward stocks have been weakened by Amy Sayer and Holly McNamara suffering the same setback this season.
Michelle Heyman will lead the line, having made the most of her second chance since coming out of her near five-year international retirement to cover Kerr.
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Matildas players learned their fate on Monday in the hours before the 2-0 win over China in Sydney, which featured a near full-strength starting line-up with no surprises among the six substitutes used.
But Grant has missed out on Paris 2024 despite earning minutes in the Matildas’ past five games.
The 22-year-old shone when she first stepped up in 2022 and continued to impress last year, earning a move to English club Tottenham.
Olympic rules restrict squads to just 18 active players, down from 23 at the FIFA Women’s World Cup last year.
Grant will remain on standby as travelling injury cover alongside Sharn Freier, Courtney Nevin and retiring goalkeeper Lydia Williams.
On the flip side of the heartbreak, fellow fullback Kaitlyn Torpey has vaulted into the squad after only making her international debut in February.
Gorry is on the comeback trail from ankle surgery in March while Caitlin Foord is another injury concern after picking up a hamstring problem in recent days.
Steph Catley will continue to captain the side in Kerr’s absence with Ellie Carpenter and Emily van Egmond named vice-captains.
The Matildas will face Germany, Zambia and the United States in Group B with the top two progressing. The two best third-place teams from the three groups will also make it through.
Paris 2024 is shaping up to be Gustavsson’s last hurrah with the Matildas, with his contract set to expire at the end of the tournament.
“I’ve been a bit emotional this camp,” he said on Monday night.
“As of right now, this might be my last camp on home soil.
“What I’ve said to myself, ‘if so, I’m going to embrace and enjoy every single second and every minute of this camp’, which I have.”
Australia are ranked 12th in the FIFA rankings but three teams above them failed to qualify for the Olympics.
“We’re going into that tournament rank nine,” added the Swede.
“In terms of ranking, we shouldn’t even make it to the quarter-final but we want more than that. You know this team, they will never make excuses.
“We’re just going to go there and do what we want to do and that is to try for a medal.”
Matildas squad
Goalkeepers: Mackenzie Arnold, Teagan Micah
Defenders: Ellie Carpenter, Steph Catley (capt), Clare Hunt, Alanna Kennedy, Clare Polkinghorne, Kaitlyn Torpey
Midfielders: Kyra Cooney-Cross, Katrina Gorry, Emily van Egmond, Clare Wheeler, Tameka Yallop
Forwards: Caitlin Foord, Mary Fowler, Michelle Heyman, Hayley Raso, Cortnee Vine
Alternates: Lydia Williams, Sharn Freier, Charlotte Grant, Courtney Nevin.
– with AAP